HAIKU MONDAY:On Low Water and Swayin’ for Rain

Welcome to the first Haiku Monday of the New Year, now that Fish Hack’s back at the Fish Wrap doing the naked rain dance that hopefully will swell Oregon rivers and put a start to the winter steelhead season.

Of course, the Rain Twerk doesn’t come with a selfie.

Naked dance for rain/Has worked in even drought years/No video, though.

For you Haiku Monday virgins, this is when and where Fish Hack waxes on and off non-Brazilian style about the outdoors and whatever comes to mind. It’s sthe schtick that keeps on schticking and gets Hack the all-important web hits…even if they are from off-shore click-tank.

This is the first Monday after the driest calendar year on Medford history. And that has Hack’s driftboat stuck in the garage waiting for rain instead of on the Rogue River — Hack’s home waters.

Normally dragging guts for winter steelhead in the Galice area about now. No steelhead there, though, and for good reason.

Flows at Agness are at a putridly low 1,774 cfs this afternoon. That’s lower than fall drought levels and about a third of what it should be in January.

Looking a lot like ’92 and ’94, the last two times Hack had to buff out for precip.

Great conditions to fly-fish for halfpounder steelhead, but come on, man.

Halfpounder water/Need more so steelheahead migrate/And get Hack’s boat wet.

Blog Author

Mark Freeman

I've underachieved as the Mail Tribune's Fish Hack since 1989. I can't help but find a few things to yuk about with pathetic regularity in the outdoors. My most treasured award? An OSHA citation for a messy desk -- Fire hazard. YEAH! Read Full